ALGIERS, Algeria - Two former Algerian prime ministers went on trial Wednesday on corruption charges, in the most high-profile act of transparency and accountability since a pro-democracy movement pushed out the long-serving president. Both are charged with “corruption and the misappropriation of public funds“ and both deny any wrongdoing. Algerians are voting for a new president after Bouteflika, who was in office for two decades, was forced out in April. The trial was boycotted by defence lawyers, who stayed away because they felt conditions were not met for a fair trial. Much of the questioning involved a car manufacturing corruption scandal, allegedly involving huge bribes, inflated invoices and dodgy loans.

Source: thestar December 04, 2019 12:56 UTC